about the founder of delhi chamber of commerce

Late Sirdar Prem Singh Sodhbans the founder of Delhi Chamber was born at Gujarkhan, now in Pakistan, on 20th July, 1884 and received school education at Ram Nagar, District Gujranwala and Lahore. Started life in the Army but left service on account of illness in 1905. He migrated to Lahore in April 1907 and joined Bharat Mata, a violent political movement, which was run by S. Kishan Singh, father of famous Patriot Martyr S. Bhagat Singh, Lala Pindi Das, Sufi Amba Prasad, Mehta Anand Kishore and others. He left politics for studies and went to England in 1909 and passed F.L.A.A. (Lond.) and started practice as a Registered Accountant on his return to Lahore (India) 1910. He was Fellow of The Association of certified and Corporate Accountants (London) Since 1911 and he was their representatives in India till his last. He attended the Lucknow Session of the Indian National Congress and opposed the Lucknow Pact as he considered it an anti-national Pact. He attended the session of the Punjab Political Conference held in Bradlaugh Hall, Lahore in April 1917 under the presidency of Late Mian Fazal-i-Hussain and opposed the ratification of the Lucknow Pact although he belonged to a minority community as it was anti-national. The Pact was the forerunner of the vivisection of India. He was a Pioneer in starting a Political Movement amongst the Sikhs in 1918 with the consultation of Hindu friends of the Congress for claiming a separate and special representation for the Sikhs in Punjab as an important minority like Muslims in other provinces. He was Founder of Sikh League and was its Secretary from
1919-23. He was First Sikh Member of A.LC.C. 1919-28. Vice-President and President Lahore City Congress Committee 1920-21-23. Member Executive Committee Punjab Provincial Congress Committee 1919-23. Sirdar Sodhbans approached the Government of India alongwith 16 professional accountants of Bombay, Calcutta, U.P. and Punjab for the establishment of a Central Organisation of Accountancy Profession in January 1928 and which resulted in the establishment of Indian accountancy Board as a Central Organisation in 1943. He was Founder and editor of magazine Indian Chartered Accountant and Secretary (now Indian Accountant) in 1922-53. Following books was written by him :

Economic Planning of India, German Problem in Europe, Sikh Position in India, Indians Abroad, Genesis of Kashmir Problem, Development of Accountancy Profession in India, Indian Trade Relations with Foreign Countries, Industrial Development of India.

He became member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1931-36 and 38. He was also Founder Member of Indian Chamber of Commerce Lahore and its Hony. Secretary from 1927-42 and President 1942-43 now known as Northern India Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chandigarh. He was member of the Executive Committee of the Indian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce of Paris, New Delhi-193233, 35, 37, 42, 46, 50 and Elected member of the Council in Paris 1949-51. He was member N.W.R. Advisory Committee in 1933-36. He represented
India at International gatherings as a delegate. He was member of
Employers Delegation to 20th Session International Labour Conference in Geneva, June 1936. He was first Indian delegate and guest of Honour, to 5th International Congress on Accounting in Berlin, 1938. He was President of Society Registered Accountants in North India 1937-38 and
1941-42. He was also member of Indian Accountancy Board, Govt. of
India, 1939-44. He was President Inc Secr. Association (India) 1941-50 and member Executive Committee Indian Economic Association in 1948.

After partition he started Delhi Chamber of Commerce in June, 1950 as a national organisation. He was its Hony. Secretary from 1950 to till his last 1970. In between he was elected as President of the Chamber for one year 1954-55. His Name used to appear in International who's who.

It is difficult to pen down in details the services of Sirdar P.S. Sodhbans who was a soldier, chartered accountant, economist, political leader, author, journalist, social worker and friend of the poor. There never was a greater defender of the Panth than Sirdar Sodhbans, and country can be proud of this Patriot and servant who always kept the interest of the people above self. By writing his short biography I pay my homage to Sirdar P.S. Sodhbans the founder of this Chamber and I feel priveleged to have been given this opportunity.